The Program

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2:18

The Program

R,

2016,

1h 43m,

Biography/

Drama

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62%

111 Reviews

Tomatometer

44%

2,500+ Ratings

Popcornmeter

62%

Tomatometer

111 Reviews

44%

Popcornmeter

2,500+ Ratings

Journalist David Walsh (Chris O'Dowd) of The Sunday Times investigates famed cyclist Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) for doping.

Critics Consensus

Ben Foster's impressive efforts to channel Lance Armstrong are often enough to power The Program past director Stephen Frears' frustrating unwillingness to delve deeper into its real-life story.

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Susan Wloszczyna

RogerEbert.com

Mar 18, 2016

2/4

The flashily photographed enterprise too often becomes a blur of sound bites and slick aesthetics akin to a Nike commercial.

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Robert Abele

Los Angeles Times

Mar 18, 2016

"The Program" fails to add anything new, or penetrate the soul of so crafty a cheater.

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Kate Taylor

Globe and Mail

Mar 18, 2016

2/4

It never goes deep on what it was that produced the awfulness that is Lance Armstrong.

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Don Shanahan

Every Movie Has a Lesson

Jul 23, 2025

3/5

When this shiny penny is turned over, the film's kinetic racing ends and it reveals its dichotomy to dive into the seedy and troubled backstory of drug abuse, rampant doping, investigative journalism, and immense hidden cover-up.

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Brendan Cassidy

InSession Film

Jun 17, 2024

D+

There is no resonance, no arc, no drama, and worst of all, no point.

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Brian Eggert

Deep Focus Review

Apr 18, 2022

2/4

The Program feels uneven, as though it couldn't decide whether to be a dramatically reenacted exposé of Armstrong's lies or a standard drama.

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Leia S

Apr 11, 2018

Movie adapted from the book "Seven Deadly Sins: My Pursuit of Lance Armstrong" by David Walsh investigation of the synonymous cancer-free tour de force champion holder. David Walsh played by Chris O' Dowd was the first journalist to make the accusation about Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) and how the league was able to cover it up.

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Leia R

Apr 8, 2017

Big cycling movie fan and just a cycling guy

Harry R

Feb 1, 2017

A genuinely captivating performance from the always-brilliant Ben Foster makes this hollow, poorly-paced and -edited biopic watchable, but his efforts are ultimately hindered by an inexcusably poor directorial effort from Stephen Frears. Foster's sociopathic, chilling turn as Lance Armstrong ranks as one of the strongest performances in biopic history, but an over-reliance on flash and stylesacrificing any attempt at delving into the depth of Armstrong's characterdooms the film to mediocrity.

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Stephen Frears

Director

Ben Foster

Lance Armstrong

Chris O'Dowd

David Walsh

Guillaume Canet

Medecin Michele Ferrari

Jesse Plemons

Floyd Landis

Lee Pace

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The Program: Trailer 1

2:18

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The Program: International Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Journalist David Walsh (Chris O'Dowd) of The Sunday Times investigates famed cyclist Lance Armstrong (Ben Foster) for doping.

Director: Stephen Frears
Producer: Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Tracey Seaward, Kate Solomon
Screenwriter: John Hodge
Distributor: Momentum Pictures
Production Co: Anton Capital Entertainment
Rating: R (Language)
Genre: Biography, Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Mar 18, 2016, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Mar 31, 2016
Runtime: 1h 43m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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